Belated Happy Holidays

Where to begin? For the last two weeks, Rod and I have been with family and/or friends non-stop (except when we are sleeping or on an airplane between families). The last of our family (my adorable little sister) left this morning. The ornaments have all been returned to their resting place under the stairs. And I billed six hours today. The holidays are officially over :(

We started our adventure in Louisiana. I have been there many times and spent one Christmas there, but this was my first time there as Rod's wife. I was sad that I didn't get be with my family on Christmas until my Grandma pointed out that Rod's family is my family now. Rod's family has always been very welcoming, but my grandma's observation made me look at it with a new perspective. These are people that will be connected to me and my family for the rest of my life. Boy am I glad that I have such great in-laws!

Our time in Louisiana included several family gatherings:
Melanie's Birthday celebration at Aunt Patty (Rod's mom's sister) and Uncle Gerry's,




dinner at Mike Anderson's with the Abernathys (Rod's stepdad Sterling, his "Third Grandmother" Ms. Caroline, and Rod's stepbrother Benton), Christmas Eve Eve at Aunt Jumy's (Rod's dad's sister Judy and her husband Jimmy),






Christmas Eve at Aunt Patty and Uncle Gerry's and at Marshal Anne and Nelson's (Ms. Caroline's cousin) with the Abernathy's
before Christmas Mass with Mr. Pete (Rod's Dad), and Christmas Day at Aunt Terry and Fred's with the Dewailly's (Rod's mothers family: Maw Maw, Paw Paw, Uncle Eddie, Patty and her husband Gerry, their daughter Melanie, her husband Jonathan, their girls Ellery, Hailey, and Avery, Terry, Fred, their son Cole)



and at Chris and Lee's (Rod's cousins),

and the day after Christma barbequeing (seriously! It was 80 degrees) at Rod's brother Stephen's house.



Whew! That is enough for tonight. Stay tuned for details about our trip to New Orleans tomorrow.